Manchester United wants 85 million pounds from Real Madrid for Ronaldo’s transfer

MADRID - Manchester United has said that it will consider transferring its star Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish football giants for an astronomical record breaking fee of 85 million pounds.

Reports in Spain insisted that the Englissh Premier League champion club’s chief executive David Gill had quoted this figure to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.

According to The Sun, Ronaldo, who is currently on holiday in Los Angeles, will have to put in a transfer request and tell Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson that he wants to quit Old Trafford for The Bernabeu.

Ferguson flew out to Lisbon last summer to persuade Ronaldo, 24, to stay with the Red Devils, but is unlikely to do so this time, and if a discussion on this issue does take place, it will be taken up at the club’s headquarters in Manchester on Fergie’s terms, the tabloid adds.

Ronaldo has told close friends that he wants a new challenge.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid has said that it is ready to make the first move to sign up Ronaldo.

Revealing this, club president Perez said he is ready to end what he called a “phony war” with Manchester United.

Having purchased Brazilian striker Kaka for a record 59 million pounds, The Telegraph quoted Perez as saying that Real are now on the brink of discussing with United precisely what it will take to secure the Portuguese winger’s services.

Speaking to Spanish public radio station RNE, Perez said: “I have not yet spoken to them (United) but I will do it in the coming days.

Real general director Jorge Valdano also described Ronaldo as a great professional and a great footballer, but added that his club is aware that the latter’s current contract at Old Trafford still has three years left to run.

Reports in Spain also said that Real Madrid has sent a medical team to California to assess Ronaldo’s fitness, but Manchester United has rubbished this. (ANI)